All British International Investment (BII) articles
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Weekly Briefings
Infrawatch Weekly: TowerCos face churn, altnets’ £800m losses, TalkTalk rapped
Latest from the digital infra scene in the Europe and beyond, including another £16m on the £800m UK altnet losses pile; £6bn datacentre boost; European TowerCo consolidation mooted, and plenty more…
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Financial & Performance
BII weighs impact of Safaricom’s shakeup in Ethiopia
A British International Investment report finds that the UK government’s backing of Safaricom Telecommunications Ethiopia is adding energy to the market, but headwinds make for mixed picture for startup operator.
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Weekly Briefings
Infrawatch Weekly: EU to invest in quantum, subsea, and 5G; hurricanes accelerate LEO clearance
Latest from the digital infra scene in the UK and beyond, including a new data centre for Manchester; Starlink sat‑to‑cell cleared for hurricane relief; EU heralds €865m spending plans, and plenty more…
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People
British International Investment’s CEO steps down
UK government’s development finance institution poaches Leslie Maasdorp from New Development Bank, as O’Donohoe’s seven-year leadership run comes to a close. Read more…
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Financial & Performance
BII lauds digital infra investment impact in tough economic climate
BII CEO Nick O’Donohoe sees private sector funding as critical to delivering long-term, sustainable solutions that grants alone cannot provide.
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People
Infra investor people moves: KKR swaps EMEA chair
KKR brings in Johannes Huth as new Chairman of EMEA.
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Premium
UK government cements Infrastructure Bank bill in law
UK Infrastructure Bank commits to further infra investment, as new bill solidifying its objectives is granted Royal Assent.
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Premium
WorldLink bags funding to expand Nepal coverage
Nepalese ISP WorldLink to leverage financing from British International Investment and Dolma Fund Management to expand coverage.
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Premium
Safaricom, Vodacom drop more cash into Ethiopian kitty
Share issue by parent vehicle opens up more funds for Safaricom Telecommunications Ethiopia’s startup rollout
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People
Infra people moves: euNetworks switches up Board of Directors
euNetworks appoints Paula Cogan as new CEO after leadership shuffle.
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Partnerships & Alliances
M-KOPA lands debt finance from IFC
Safaricom energy financing partner secures $50m loan to pursue expansion in Kenya.
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Strategy & Change
CEO: Safaricom to keep Ethiopia control as IFC lines up stake
Peter Ndegwa tells local media that Safaricom will remain a majority owner of new Ethiopian venture despite pending capital injection by International Finance Corporation.
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Operations
M-PESA set for Ethiopian expansion
Move finally set to go ahead after significant delays.
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Premium
Elsewhere in Vodafone Africa: BII commits $76m (£67m/€76m) to African Infrastructure Fund
Vodacom fibre customers suffer third‑party data breach; Vodacom broadens burgeoning financial services portfolio with new short‑term loan offering.
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Operations
Safaricom’s long-awaited Ethiopian network begins pilot
Dire Dawa test-run represents “important milestone”.
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Network & Infrastructure
Safaricom Ethiopia ready to launch network in August
Phased rollout planned for 25 cities by April 2023.
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Network & Infrastructure
Vodacom seeks strategic partners for ‘Africa FibreCo’
SA group’s infra overhaul continues with plan for regional wireline play.
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Venturing & Investments
UK’s rebranded BII embarks on new impact investing
British International Investment (BII) embraces broader digital strategy.
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Public Affairs
UK government defends Ethiopian mobile investment
Vodafone and CDC investment in Ethiopian mobile operator crops up in parliamentary debate on Tigray humanitarian crisis. Investment deemed to be “right” and long term. CDC emphasises role as impact investor with a lot of patience. Vodacom agrees to fund Safaricom Telecommunications Ethiopia.
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Public Affairs
Vodafone pursues UK government over lost contract
Vodafone loses Foreign Office contract to Fujitsu, claims process breached procurement rules. Preliminary issue trial set for January 2022.